You recognize that sensation when you’re 99% certain something’s a great idea, just to understand later on … it was a total dumpster fire? That’s precisely what happened when I decided to change my entire company over to GoHighLevel.
It looked shiny. It sounded revolutionary. Yet in truth? It became among one of the most excruciating software choices I’ve made in over a decade of running my service.
So before you jump on the GoHighLevel bandwagon, let me walk you via specifically what dropped– since if you’re anything like me, you’re always searching for smarter, extra effective means to grow your service. Just … not such as this.
The Seductive All-in-One Pledge
Here’s the thing. When GoHighLevel struck the scene, it sounded like a desire come to life. A solitary platform to manage your CRM, sales funnels, e-mail campaigns, visit bookings, automation, settlements– you call it.
If you have actually ever handled a Monster stack of tools just to run your day-to-day, you recognize how alluring the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I would certainly been using Keap for many years (and loving it, truthfully), however still– I got tempted in by the assurance of streamlining everything under one roof covering.
And yeah, I’ll admit it: I had a poor instance of shiny things disorder.
Why I Left Keap (A Tool That In Fact Worked)
Let me be genuine with you: Keap had not been damaged. It did everything I required. It handled my e-mail automations, sales funnels, appointment scheduling, invoicing– you call it. Sure, the user interface felt a little outdated in places, and sometimes things took a few more clicks than I liked, however hey, it worked.
So why change?
Truthfully, I simply started asking yourself if I was losing out. GoHighLevel was more affordable (on the surface), supplied much more features, and all the great marketing experts online appeared to be going crazy concerning it. FOMO is a hell of a medication.
That interest price me more than just cash– it cost me time, power, and assurance.
What It Cost Me to Switch
I went all in. Registered for the $297/month agency plan. Spent a strong 30 to 40 hours migrating information, reconstructing workflows, and basically trying to reproduce my entire Keap configuration inside GoHighLevel.
Below’s what I had to relocate:
- 20,000+ e-mail clients
- Dozens of automations
- All customer accounts and notes
- Stripe payment integration
- Entire funnel infrastructure
- Personalized kinds, landing pages, triggers … whatever
Let’s not even discuss the shed productivity during those few weeks. I was up to my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, seeing tutorials, and trying to figure out where the heck basic settings were.
And just when I thought points were functioning … they weren’t.
The Vermin Began Creeping In
Initially, whatever looked alright. But then, out of no place, people on my listing began obtaining emails they weren’t supposed to obtain. I’m talking totally unnecessary messages– sent out in sets of 171 individuals each time. Three days straight.
Overall chaos.
I restore the automations from the ground up. Still happened. I spoke to support. They blamed “web server concerns.” However absolutely nothing made good sense, and the trouble didn’t disappear. Think of waking up every morning wondering who your system might’ve spammed over night.
That’s not simply bothersome– it’s dangerous. When your entire brand is built on count on, you can’t manage to resemble a clueless amateur blowing up the incorrect emails to the wrong people.
Assistance? Yeah, Best Of Luck
Currently, I don’t anticipate perfection from any system. Pests take place. However when they do? I anticipate the support team to step up quickly.
That didn’t occur below.
Actions were unclear. Tickets went unanswered. I seemed like I was shouting into the void while my organization burned. On the other hand, every min I spent fixing was a min I had not been offering customers or expanding my company.
For a device that markets itself to significant business owners, GoHighLevel certain really did not treat me like one.
The User interface Was a Hot Mess
You ever before utilize a device and simply feel … lost? That was me inside ClickFunnels Vs GoHighLevel Lawsuit.
The UX was confusing. Points were hidden in strange locations. Even easy jobs like editing a funnel or tweaking an email circulation developed into a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Don’t even get me began. Want to transform item setups, page formats, and general circulation? Great– you’ll require to hunt via three different areas that make zero sensible sense. Fifty percent the moment, I could not even keep in mind where I ‘d clicked something ten secs earlier.
It felt like using software application built by engineers, for designers– not everyday business owners.
The “Affordable” Plan That Obtained Real Costly, Real Rapid
Let’s talk money.
Among GoHighLevel’s big marketing factors is the price. I imply, $97/month for all those features? Seems remarkable, appropriate?
But right here’s what they do not inform you:.
You pay extra per email if you utilize their SMTP.
You have to attach services like Mailgun or Twilio and manage their billing independently.
You’ll obtain random microcharges that aren’t described plainly.
Want far better e-mail deliverability? That’s gon na cost you as well.
By the time I added every little thing up, I was paying greater than I had been with Keap. And worsening outcomes.
That’s not a good deal– it’s simply bad math.
My Email Metrics Tanked ClickFunnels Vs GoHighLevel Lawsuit
The final straw? Seeing my email open prices go down like a rock.
I would certainly been getting a strong 35% open price with Keap. My audience was involved, my automations were dialed in, and things just functioned.
After switching over to GoHighLevel? Opens dropped listed below 15%. Clicks were virtually nonexistent. Something was plainly off.
Perhaps it was a deliverability issue. Maybe the system was just sending out at hard times or otherwise personalizing messages appropriately. Whatever the reason, I wasn’t lingering to play investigative while my list deteriorated.
Lessons I Found Out by hand
If you’re considering switching over to GoHighLevel– or any new platform– right here’s what I wish someone had actually told me prior to I made the leap:.
1. Do Not Chase the Shiny Toy
It’s easy to get hyped regarding the latest “cutting edge” device. However just because everyone’s talking about something does not mean it’s right for you. If your existing system is functioning, hesitate before blowing it up.
2. Worth Simpleness Over Features
Extra isn’t constantly better. A system with a clean, user-friendly user interface will save you time and frustrations in the future– even if it doesn’t have every feature imaginable.
3. Need Transparency
Covert costs are the most awful. Select devices that are upfront regarding pricing, integrations, and limitations. You shouldn’t require a calculator and a synonym replacement tool to recognize your monthly expense.
4. Listen to Genuine Customers (Not Just Marketers)
Examine unbiased reviews, user online forums, and Reddit strings. Pay attention to real individual experience– not just glossy sales web pages.
Still Want an All-in-One CRM? Here Are Better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a reliable, user-friendly platform to run your organization, I’ve checked a lot. Below are a couple of I ‘d really advise:.
Keap— My present go-to. Powerful automations, solid support, and it simply works. Worth every dime.
HubSpot— Great for businesses that require scalability and progressed CRM features.
GreenRope— A solid all-in-one service for little to mid-sized companies with strong reporting devices.
Monday.com— Fantastic for job administration, team collaboration, and sales pipeline tracking.
Bonsai— Especially great for consultants and service-based solopreneurs.
Verdict
GoHighLevel might work for some. But also for me? It was a discouraging, pricey experiment that I could not wait to end.
So if you’re standing at the edge, questioning whether to make the jump– think hard. Ask yourself what’s actually not operating in your present setup. Don’t burn your systems down just because something more recent and shinier appeared.
Stick to what works. Your peace of mind (and your customers) will thanks.